Muscular Disorders

Folks worried about their heart health will be relieved to learn that a number of recent studies suggest that you already have a cheap yet very powerful weapon against heart attacks, strokes and other heart disease conditions. At a cost of less than $2 it sits, waiting, on your bathroom counter and is none other your humble toothbrush.

Researchers have found that people with Periodontal Disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from Coronary Artery Disease as those without Periodontal Disease. One study even found that the presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease (Gingivitis), cavities and missing teeth, were as good at predicting Heart Disease as cholesterol levels!

How can that be? Some studies point to the culprit in the, ‘bad gums = heart disease’ connection as an inflammatory process. They explain that plaque build-up at the gum-line, produces inflammation which sets-off a cascade of events producing inflammation in the arteries of the heart.

Oral bacteria may provoke inflammation, which may increase levels of white blood cells and C-Reactive Protein, or CRP, Will said. C-Reactive Protein is an inflammatory marker found in the blood that has been linked to Heart Disease.  A form of this protein called, ‘Highly Sensitive CRP (or hs-CRP) is considered a good predictor of recurrent heart attacks. The hs-CRP is also associated with lower survival rates, according to the American Heart Association.  Consumer Reports cites a recent study that found periodontal therapy actually reduced patients’ levels of CRP.

Yet most recent studies point to bacteria rather than CRP as the connection between Heart Disease and Gum Disease. Researchers at Howard University did a retrospective look at 11 studies that examined the connection between Periodontal Disease and Heart Disease.

Results point to a strong correlation between subjects’ levels of systemic bacteria, the presence of Periodontal Disease and the development of Heart Disease.  “They found that individuals with Periodontal Disease whose biomarkers showed increased bacterial exposure, were more likely to develop coronary heart disease or atherogenesis;” which is the formation of artery-blocking plaque, according to study results published by the American Academy of Periodontology.

Periodontitis has been linked in multiple studies not only to heart disease, but also Diabetes complications, pneumonia, stroke and even premature births.

The milder form of gum disease is gingivitis and, with proper treatment, it usually can be reversed with improved oral care and mouth rinses. The more aggressive form is periodontitis, according to the American Academy of Periodontology.  When the gums become red and inflamed due to poor oral hygiene or a disease in the body affecting soft tissue, “the spillover of bacteria gets into the bloodstream,” said Gayle Will, deputy health editor of Consumer Reports.

Another study by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York looked at people with no known Heart Disease, and the levels of bacteria in their mouth. They found people with higher blood levels of certain oral bacteria were more likely to have clogged carotid arteries in the neck, which can cause strokes.  Yet the lead author of that study, Dr. Moise Desvarieux, said the results could lead to the old “which-came-first, the-chicken-or-the-egg” question. It is difficult to know for certain whether one caused the other and further research is needed.

Still, he suggests, even if severe gum disease doesn’t cause Heart Disease, it could be just as important to know if Gum Disease is a precursor to heart disease. That’s because Heart Disease is difficult to diagnose before patients are symptomatic — and sometimes by then, significant damage is already done.

Why not begin to make changes to safe-guard your heart health today?  You can easily start by establishing a routine of flossing and brushingafter each meal, followed by a refreshing natural mouth rinse. This is especially important as a bedtime habit.  A lot can happen to your mouth in eight hours — especially when you’re sleeping and bacterium are gathering on your teeth.

So start your new routine today!

Best Health,

-Jeanne Ricks, CHC, AADP

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Has the novelty of having the kids home from school worn-off – for both you AND the kids?! Yep, it’s that time of year again – the younger half of the household is more restless than usual and getting the blues, while the adults try to downplay their relief!  Back-to-School!!

So let’s start with the wake-up.  If you don’t own a trumpet but, would still like to get the kids out of bed quickly – Take at least a week to slowly shift your kids’ sleep schedule back to meet their needs: At least 10 hours of sleep for six to eleven year olds and at least 9 hours of sleep for ages twelve and above.

To avoid having your carefully prepared bag lunch find its way immediately into the trash when out of your eyeshot – Make Lunch a Team Effort- When it comes to creating healthy, yet desirable school lunches, the trick is to involve the kids in planning and preparing new lunch ideas. Offer them 2 or 3 healthy options each day. When your child chooses one, ‘team-up’ to make and pack the lunch. Whether it’s spreading on condiments, rolling up tortillas or filling baggies; the effort will give kids a sense of pride when sitting down for a healthy lunch! Together come-up with a collection of favorite sandwiches and offer-up a fresh variety each day of the week. When children become bored of their school lunch favorites, often most of their lunch ends up in the trash instead of their tummies.

Be creative when using basic sandwich staples. Think chicken and corn, ham and avocado, cheese and carrots or cream cheese and jam. While there is no way to ensure that your child is not trading away their food, you are preventing them from buying school lunches which consist of mostly processed food.

TIP 1 – Crunchy nuts make great snacks for older kids.

TIP 2 – Avocado is the perfect substitution for mayo on a sandwich.

TIP 3 – Pack meals in small portions as children tend to snack on several items at once.

And then there’s always the sneaky method of tricking your kids into eating healthier meals.  Let’s Play Hide n’ Seek with Veggies! Preschool children consumed nearly twice as many vegetables and 11% fewer calories over the course of a day when researchers at Penn State added pureed vegetables to the children’s favorite foods.

In their study, published July 25, 2011 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers served vegetable-enhanced entrées to 39 children between the ages of 3 and 6 on three separate days. “We incorporated several vegetables into the dishes, including broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, tomatoes and squash,” said Maureen Spill, a post-doctoral fellow in nutritional sciences and the study’s lead author. “We were pleased to find that the children found the vegetable-enhanced versions to be equally acceptable to the standard recipes.”

According to Spill, the children ate the same amount of food regardless of the vegetable content of the meal. AND they found similar results when they served vegetable-enhanced meals to adults.

OK, even so – you’re not always sure that they’re getting enough balanced nutrition – we’ve got some amazing supplements – specially formulated just for kids!

Like: All-1’s Childrens Formula Vitamins & Minerals Powder which is a whole food powder and allows for better absorption.  It’s Hypoallergenic with no colorings, flavorings or sweeteners and contains not only a complete vitamin profile but important chelated minerals and amino acids too!

Or: Flora’s Kinder Love Childrens Multivitamin this formula provides Calcium, Herbal Extracts, B Vitamins and Vitamin C, A, and E making it an ideal multi-vitamin supplement to help maintain all-round health and vitality in children whose diet may be deficient in some of the nutrients they need.

And how about:  NutriBalance Children’s Formula which is intended to provide easily assimilated nutrition to support proper mental functioning and gastrointestinal health. It’s loaded with a balance of essential vitamins and minerals – but, it also contains probiotics to assist with digestion and has no yeast, wheat, corn, sugar or dairy products.

Best Health!

-Jeanne Ricks, CHC, AADP

Inosine is derived from animal or plant source.  There is a form of inosine called Inosiplex that acts as an immune stimulator.  It has been investigated for it use in cancer therapy and in the treatment of virus infection.

Runners have used it because it prolongs there run (for endurance).  In Europe it is widely used to treat cardiomyopathy and irregular heartbeats.

The latest research shows it may be beneficial for people with MS and other spinal cord problems, and well as people suffering from other muscle/nerve disorders.  Designs for Health has made a great synergistic blend called Inosine – MS, which includes PS (Phosphatidyl Serine) and Gingko Bilboa.

Many companies have inosine in sports packs, e.g., Designs for Health Inosine MS, Douglas Labs Energy/ Sports Pack or Source Naturals Inosine.

If you tend to get the gout don’t use it unless you supplement with celery seed and/or tart cherry fruit extract.  As always check with your doctor before use.

by: C. Lombardo